Elevator door



H. W. SCHWARTZ Nov. 12,V 1935.

ELEVATOR DOOR Filed May 20, 1935 3 Sheets-She'e'g, 1

ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1935. H, w, 'SCHWARTZ ELEVATOR DOOR Filed May 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Nov. l2, 1935.

H, W. SCHWARTZ ELEVATOR DOOR E Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20, 19.515l

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATESV PATENT oFFleE ELEVATOR DOOR Howard W. Schwartz, New York', N. Y. Application May 20, 1933, Serial No. 671,988

11 Claims.

This invention relates to elevator door constructions, and one specific form thereof relates to elevator door constructions comprising oppositely vertically moving door sections.

One object of this invention is to provide an elevator door construction in which the elevator door throughout its opening and closing Inovements will extend into the hatchway a minimum distance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an elevator door construction in which the elevator door, when closed, will be located mainly within the door opening with the hatchway side of the door substantially flush with the inside surface of the hatchway wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide an' elevator door construction in which no toeguard is required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an elevator door construction in which the door opening and the door are provided with two spaced sealing or contact areas to more effectively prevent the passage of smoke, ame and drafts.

Another object is to provide an improved guiding mechanism for controlling the movement of the door into the closed and open positions.

Another object is to provide an improved trucking sill construction in which the top, of the door or the lower door section, extends within the door opening when the door or door section is fully open. Y

Other objects of t 's invention include the novel features and details of construction of the various parts and'combinations of parts disclosed in this application.

The above and other objects will appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication.

Referring to the drawings in which one Way of carrying out the invention is shown for illustrative purposes: Y

Fig. 1 is a condensed elevation showing an elevator door, frame, and guidevvay structure embodying my invention as viewed from inside the elevator hatchway.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View at line A--A of Fig. 1, showing door, frame, and guideway structures at one side of a door opening; the doors, guideshoes and other door details being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5 are all vertical section views taken at line A-A of Fig. 1 which in progressive order, show in dotted lines, three posi- (Cl. Ztl-19) tions of a lower door section during the opening movement.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are side and front views of the guide-shoes which are located near the topl of lower door section and bottom of upper door sec- 5 tion at each side of same.

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are side and front views respectively of the spring guide-shoes that are carried by a door section and which are located at bottom side edges of lower door section and at 10Cl top side edges of the upper door section.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in section at upper part of line A-A of Fig. l, with doors in closed position.

Fig. 11 shows the upper portion of Fig. 10, but 15v several views. 26?

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I indicates a portion of a hatchway wall which surrounds or provides an elevator 'shaft or hatchway and in which door openings are provided in vertical alinement, in series vone 21.5"l

above the other, at each floor.

At 2 I have indicated the head jamb of one such ldoor opening, at 2a the rebated or recessed portion of the saine is shown and at 2b the hatch-side flange of the head jamb is indicated. 3:0"

The sill, or threshold, is shown at 3, the bevelled portion at 3a, the hatch-side flange at 3b, and recesses for reception of support blocks V2Q' are indicated at 3c. VThe side jambs of the door opening or frame are shown at il, the rebated or re- 35 cessed portion of the same at la and the hatchside liange at 4h.

The'rebated or recessed top portion 2a, the rebated or recessed side portions la and the recessed or beveled portion 3u of the sill consti- 40 tute what may be called a recess-like portion extending entirely around in the door opening and providing a sealing surface extending entirely around in the door opening and 'spaced from the hatchway surface of the hatchway Wall, thus providing two spaced-apart sealing or contact areas for the door or door sections to prevent the passage of smoke, flame and drafts. While the spaced-apart sealing areas are formed by means of actual recessed portions in the form of the invention disclosed, it will be understood that any construction which provides two' spacedapart sealing or contact areas is intended to be included by the term recess-like portion.

In the drawings I have shown aportion of the guideway adjacent one door opening with extension of the same to an opening next above or below as indicated in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5. However, it is understood that said guideway structure extends vertically throughout the entire height of a shaft, being disconnected only at the centers of the door openings or where spaces between the head of one door opening and the sill of a door opening next above are too great for economical continuity.

With this type of elevator door it is desirable that like construction be maintained at each door opening throughout the entire shaft to preserve the flush hatch principle as set forth herein.

Fireproof freight elevator doors of this'general type are usually composed of two doors or door sections as indicated on the drawings at 24 and 26, and so connected that said door sections will move vertically in opposite directions when opening or closing the door, the connection between upper door section 24 and lower door section 26 is by cable chains or other flexible means shown on the drawings at 6, which pass over sheaves 5, each cable chain being secured at one end to a 4carriage bar I0 of upper door 24, and to an eyebolt 'l at the other end.

A carriage nut 8 and jam nut 9 provide connection between each eye-bolt 'I and the carriage bar Il mounted on door section 26 and permit of fine adjustment. These connections are made at each side of each door.

. On the lower door section 26, across the top of the same, is shown in Fig. l1 a combination of two angle sections 21 and 28; the larger angle 21 is placed with the inside surface of its vertical leg against the hatch side of lower door section 26 and with its horizontal leg crossing the top edge of the same and projecting into the opening between side jambs 4. The smaller angle 28 is placed with the outside of its vertical leg against the hall or floor side of the same door section and with its top or horizontal leg riveted or welded to the under side of the horizontal leg of angle 21. The vertical legs of these angles are through riveted to the door which is interiorly reinforced for this purpose. This combination of angles 21 and 28 form the trucking sill which substantially spans the gap between the level portion of floor sill 3 and the edge of an elevator car platform, when the door is in the open position. The construction details of this trucking sill are most clearly shown in Fig. 11.

In order that the trucking sill may be held level with the floor line of sill 3 when the lower door section 26 is open, support blocks 29 as shown on the drawings, are provided. These blocks are secured to the inside faces of angle 28 at intervals along the same as required to support the weight of variable loads up to a predetermined maximum crossing the trucking sill when the door is open. The support blocks are in engagement with recessed portions 3c of the bevelled portion 3a of the sill 3, which are provided at complementary intervals.

An angular astragal 25, is shown at the lower edge of upper door section 24. This astragal is formed integrally with the sheet metal of the door section and extends across the width of the door opening between side jambs 4 and, being welded together, constitutes a rigid, sturdy appurtenance to seal the space between door sections 24 and 26 which may be spaced apart vertically with rubber bumpers to prevent slamming, when the door is being closed.

The door sections 24 and 26 may be made in accordance with any of the usual methods of construction, and with the ordinarily accepted materials. The construction used in the door I have shown on the accompanying drawings is a ilush hollow metal type. This construction is 5 accomplished by using two heavy gauge steel sheets for the surface material of each door section, with formed steel channels and clips for interior reinforcing ribs. Y

Taking the top door section 24 for example, L) the hatch side sheet is flat except that at the bottom edge two bends are made, one at the right angle extending across the bottom of the door section in both directions and projecting beyond the hall face of the door then bent reversely downward-to form the inside portion of astragal 25. Z-clips are provided and are spot-welded at frequent intervals to the inside surface of said sheet, vertically spaced at consistent intervals across the same. The hall side sheet is flat except at the edges, the two side edges are formed with reverse right angle bends, one 24e at right angles to the surface plane, the other 24d a reversed bend bringing the same back to a plane parallel with the surface of the sheet but re- 25 moved from the same an exactly like distance to the width of the vertical channel ribs the same as in the case of door section 26 at 26e and 26d all as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. The top edge of this sheet is rst formed diagonally at 30 24a then formed reversely diagonal at 24h to lie in the same plane as flanges 24d formed on the side of the door. The bottom edge of this sheet is formed with two reversed right angle bends to complement those on the bottom edge of the hatch-side sheet and to complete the formation of the astragal 25; channels are sp'otwelded to the inside of this hall-side sheet in opposite alignment to the Z-clips on the hatchside sheet, then clips on the latter sheet are interlocked with the channels on the former to complete the assembly.`

- The top edge of flange 24h and the side edges of anges 24d of the hall-side sheet are brought even with the corresponding edges of the hatchside sheet and then spot-welded at close intervals around the entire perimeter including the flanges which form the astragal 25.

The lower door section 26 is fabricated in a similar manner except that the top edge of the same is reinforced for the attachment of the trucking sill and the two sheets are connected together with an inverted channel which has its legs spot-welded along the top edge portions of these sheets, Fig. ll.

The trucking sill is through-riveted to the top edge portions of this door section.

The edges of the hall-side surface of door sections 24 and 26 and the flanges 24h, 24d, 26h and 26d formed on the same, cooperate with com- 60 plemental surfaces of the rebates 4a, 2a, and beveled sill 3a together with frame flanges 4b, 2b and sill flange 3b to produce a two-area contact around the entire perimeter of the opening to seal against the passage of flame, smoke or drafts, 05 when the door is closed.

In the disclosed embodiment of my invention, the door opening frame is formed in three sections, of heavy gauge sheet metal; the head jamb 2 is formed with a plain flange on the hall side 70 and a deep rebate 2a and flange 2b on the hatch side, this deep rebate is so formed that it will complement the bevel 24a on upper door section 24 to permit the opening or closing of the latter,

and, when door section 24 is in the fully opened 75- position, that it will receive astragal 25 and so assure a full height opening. The jambs` 4 at each side of the opening, are formed similarly with a rebate 4m and a wider flange 4h. This flange, Fig. 12, is reinforced to provide for the attachment of guideway IB.

Sill 3 is made of either cast or formed metal, or is built up of suitable sections. At the hatch edge of the sill a deep bevel 3a, extending across the entire width of the same is formed and recesses 3c are provided as required to cooperate with thesupport blocks 29 which are mounted on angle 23 of door section 26when the door is in the open position as shown in Fig. 11.

Since the operating means located on each side of both door sections 24 and 25 are exactly alike and as the frame and guideway structures are the same at both sides of the door opening also, I will limit my description to the extent of explaining the details as they exist at one side of the door opening only, it being understood that while parts are alike in character at each side of the door, they are of opposite formation, right hand and left hand.

The guideway structure is composed of a formed Z-shaped section IE which extendsI vertically from a point adjacent the vertical center of one door opening to a like point at the door opening next above or below with one flange secured to frame flange 4b and to wall portion I, the other flange Ia `forming the edge of the guideway farthest from the wall. At the upper and lower ends of each guideway length, diagonal guideway sections I2 are placed, and respectively spaced away y from the latter but parallel with the same, guideway lugs I3 are placed.

Adjacent sill 3 and head jamb 2, guideway lugs I4 are also placed diagonally but respectively parallel with corresponding lugs I3, and resp-ectively parallel with corresponding lugs I4 but spaced away from same are short guide rails I5a. Connecting the two rails I5a is rail I5 which extends vertcally and parallel to guideway flange IBa.

The guide shoes carried by the door sections are placed at each edge of each section. Guide shoes I1 are attached near the top of the lower door section 26 and other guide shoes I'I are attached near the bottom of the upper door seotion 24.

Guide shoes I9 each with flat spring 2U and pad 2l as component parts are attached at the bottom of the lower door section 25 and similar complete guide shoes composed of parts I9, 20 and 2| are fastened to the top of the upper door section 24.

The operation of the upper and lower door sections during the opening and closing movements are the same although opposite, and therefore I will limit my explanation of theV same to a description of the operation of the lower door section 2B only. In Fig. 2 the door section 26 is indicated with dotted lines in the closed position generally within the confines of rebates 4a and bevelled portion 3a of sill 3. In the initial opening movement, the guiding means on door section 26, namely guide shoes Il near the top and composite guide shoes IS-ZII-Zl at the bottom cooperate with the diagonal guideway lugs and rails I2-I3 and I4-I5a respectively, the guideway means retracting the door section in a downwardly diagonal direction until surfaces IIc and pads 2| of the guide shoes encounter the inner sides of flanges Ilia,l of the guideway,'then as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, guide pads IB mounted on inside surfaces of carriage bars II engage the outside surfaces of guideway flanges Ia and in conjunction with surfaces I'Ic of shoes'I'I, slide along flanges IGa while surfaces I9d of shoes I9 and pads 2| slide along between rail flanges I5 15 and guideway flanges Itar until surfaces ISI) of shoes I9 engage bevelled ends of guideway lugs I4 adjacent the door opening next below. At this point the kinetic energy of the door sections movement causes pressure of diagonal surfaces 10;

|919 of shoes IS against the bevelled or diagonal ends of guideway lugs I4 to force ilat springs 2!! to ex sufficiently to permit the whole of shoes I9 to pass lugs I4. After shoes I9 have passed lugs I4, pads 2l continue in engagement with 1,5'l guideway flanges Iw while pads 23 near thebottom of the door section on the hall side engage guide strips 22 on the hatch side of the upper door section in the opening next below, continuing to slide downwardly until support blocks 29 seat them- 20 selves in sill recesses 3c and trucking sill 2l' is level with floor sill 3, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11.

In the closing movement the operation is generally reversed. Pads ZI and 23 at the bottom of the door section, and pads i5 and surfaces 25, I'Ic of shoes II at the top, engagefflanges Ia, guide strips l22, and both surfaces of flanges ISa, respectively, sliding along the same until the upper ends of guide shoesy i9 encounter guideway lugs I4, at which point the flat springs 20 are 30; flexed as previously described until shoes I9 have passed lugs I4 of the adjoining opening, then surfaces I9d of shoes I9 and pads 2l slide along between flanges I5 and I while pads I8 and surfaces I'Ic of guide shoes I'I continue as before 35` until surfaces I9a of guide shoes I engage guideway lugs I4 of the door sections own opening. At this point the whole door section changes its direction and proceeds diagonally with surfaces I9a and I9b of shoes I9 sliding between lugs I4 4,0 and rail flanges IsctI while surfaces I'Ia and I'Ib of guide shoes l'I slide between guideway lugs I2 and I3 similarly until section 25 meets section 24 at the center of the opening and the door is closed. 45

The upper door section operates in an exactly like manner to that described for the lower door section except in opposite direction.

It will be observed that while all parts of the guideway structure are stationary, the flexible 5f)v composite guide shoe IS-Z-gI imparts smoothness and quietnessto the opening or closing movements of the door sections, at any reasonable speed, without jarring.

It will also be observed that the edges of the 55-v door sections have clearance between the guideway structures to permit said sections to cross the projecting planes of lugs and rails mounted therein.

The arrangement of the pulleys or sheaves 5, with their axes at right angles to the plane of the door provides for sufcient horizontal movement without restricting the required vertical movement.

The invention may be carried out in other spe- 65` cific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An elevator door construction comprising: a

hatchway wall providing an elevator hatchway and a communicating door opening having a sill provided with a portion having a substantially horizontal surface; a door, the major thickness of the entire body of said door being located in said door opening when the door is in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said Wall and door adapted to guide said door in the opening movement to move bodily out of said door opening toward the hatchway and then move substantially vertically downward with said door considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the adjacent portion of the hatchway wall than the thickness of the door, said door when fully open having its top surface extending within the door opening and substantially level with said horizontal surface of the sill, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

2. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway wall providing an elevator hatchway and a communicating door opening having a sill provided with a portion having a substantially horizontal surface; a door, the major thickness of the entire body of said door being located in said door opening when the door is in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said wall and door adapted to guide said door in the opening movement to move bodily out of said door opening toward the hatchway and then move substantially vertically downward with said door considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the adjacent portion of the hatchway wall than the thickness of the door, said door when fully open having its top surface extending within the door opening and substantially level with said horizontal surface of the still, and the top of the door having means projecting within the door opening and engaging said still to limit the opening movement of the door, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

3. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway wall providing an elevator hatchway and a communicating door opening having a sill provided with a portion having a substantially horizontal surface; a pair of upper and lower door sections, the major thickness of the entire body of each door section being located in said door opening when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said wall and door sections adapted to guide said door sections in the opening movement to move bodily out of said door opening toward the hatchway and then move substantially vertically in opposite directions 4and with said door sections considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the adjacent portion of the hatchway wall than the thickness of a door section, the lower door section when fully open having its top surface extending Within the door opening and substantially level with said horizontal surface of the sill, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door sectionsY in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

4. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway wall providing an eleva-tor hatchway and a communicating door opening having a sill provided with a portion having a substantially horizontal surface; a pair of upper ,and lower door sections, the major thickness of the entire body of each door section being located in said door opening when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said wall and door sections adapted to guide said door sections in the opening movement to move bodily out of said door opening toward the hatch- 5 way and then move substantially vertically in opposite directions and with said door sections considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the adjacent portion of the hatchway wall than the thickness of a door section, the 10 lower door section when fully open having its top surface extending within the door opening and substantially level with said horizontal surface of the sill,'and the top of said lower door section having means projecting within the door opening 15 and engaging said sill to limit the opening movement of said lower door section, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door sections in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

5. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchway; doors for said door openings, the ma- 25 jor thickness of the entire body of each said door being located in a door opening when the door is in closed position; and interengaglng guide mechanism on said wall and said doors adapted to guide said doors in the opening movement to 30 move bodily out of said door openings toward the hatchway, and then to move substantially vertically with the doors considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the hatchway wall than the thickness of a door but spaced sul- 35 ciently from the hatchway wall to clear the hatchway side of a closed door, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide' the closing movement of said doorsin substantially the reverse of the opening movement. 0

6. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchway, each said door opening having a re- 45 cess-like portion adjacent the hatchway and extending around the door opening; doors for said door openings, the major thickness of the entire body of each said door being located in a said recess-like portion of a door opening when the 50 door is in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said Wall and said doors adapted to guide said doors in the opening movement to move bodily out of said recess-like portions of the door openings toward the hatchway, and then 55 to move substantially vertically with the doors considerably more closely adjacent the hatchway surface of the hatchway wall than the thickness of a door but spaced sufciently from the hatch- Way wall to clear the hatchway side of a closed 00 door, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said doors in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

7. An elevator door construction comprising:

a hatchway wall providing a substantially vere5 tically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchway, each said door opening having a recess-like portion adjacent the hatchway and extending around the door opening; doors for 70 said door openings, the major thickness of the entire body of each said door being located in a said recess-like portion of a door opening with the hatchway side of the door substantially flush with the hatchway surface of the hatchway wall 15 when the door is in closed positionyand interengaging guide mechanism on said Wall and said doors adapted to guide said doors in the opening movement to move bodily out of s-aid recess-like portions of the door openings toward the hatch- Way, and then to move substantially vertically with the doors considerably more closely adjacent the'hatchway surface of the hatchway Wall than the thickness of a door but sp-aced suiiiciently from the hatchvvay Wall to clear the hatchvvay side of a closed door, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said doors in substantially the reverse of the opening movement.

8. An, elevator door construction comprising: a hatchvvay Wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchWay; a pair of upper and lower` door sections for each of said door openings, the major thickness of the entire body of each said door section being located in a door opening when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said W-all and said door sections adapted to guide the door sections of each pair of door sections in the opening movement to move bodily out of said door openings toward the hatchvvay, and then to move substantially vertically, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door sections in substantially the reverse of the opening movement, each pair of door sections being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

9. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchvvay Wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchway, each said door opening having a recess-like portion adjacent the hatchway and extending around the door opening; a pair of upper and lower door sections for each of said door openings, the major thickness of the entire body of each said door section being located in a said recess-like portion of a door opening when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said Wall and said door sections adapted to guide the door sections of each pair of door sections in the opening movement to move bodily outv of said recess-like portions of the door openings toward the hatchvvay, and then to move substantially vertically, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door sections in substantially the reverse of the opening movement, each pair of door sections being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

10. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchway Wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchWa-y, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchvvay, each said door opening having a recess-like portion adjacent the hatchWay and extending -around the door opening; a pair of upper 5 and lower door sections for each of said door openings, the major thickness of the entire body of each said door section being located in a said recess-like portion of a door opening with the hatchway side of the door sections substantially ush with the hatchway surface of the hatch- Way Wall when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said wall and said door sections adapted to guide the door sections of each pair of door sections in the opening movement to move bodily out of said recess-like portions of the door openings toward the hatchvvay, and then to move substantially' vertically with the door sections considerably more closely adjacent the hatchvvay surface of the hatchway wall than the thickness of a door section but spaced suiciently from the hatch- Way Wall to clear the hatchvvay side of a closed door section, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said 25 door sections in substantially the reverse of the opening movement, each pair of door sections being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

11. An elevator door construction comprising: a hatchvvay Wall providing a substantially vertically-extending elevator hatchway, and superposed door openings communicating with said hatchway, each said door opening having a recess-like portion adjacent the hatchway and extending around the door opening and providing a sealing surface extending around said door opening and spaced from the hatchway surface of the hatchway Wall; a pair of upper and lower door sections for each of said door openings, the 40 major thickness of the entire body of each said door section being located in a said recess-like portion of a door opening with the door sections substantially engaging against said sealing surface and the hatchvvay surface of the hatch- Way Wall around said ldoor opening, when the door sections are in closed position; and interengaging guide mechanism on said Wall and said door sections adapted to guide the door sections of each pair of door sections in the opening movement to move bodily out of said recesslike portions of the door openings toward the hatchway, and then to move substantially vertically, and said guide mechanism being adapted to guide the closing movement of said door sections in substantially the reverse of the opening movement, each pair of door sections being interconnected to move in opposite directions.

H. W. SCHWARTZ. 

